By Dave — RealTimeHockey.net
Featuring: Sean P. Halpin, Founder of Halpin Solutions & Inventor of PowerSk8r

In this exclusive interview, RealTimeHockey.net sat down with Sean Halpin automotive designer, lifelong innovator, and creator of PowerSk8r, the #1 hockey skate-training weight on Amazon.
Sean shares the full story behind the invention, the engineering process, the business journey, and the player success stories that shaped PowerSk8r into a nationally recognized hockey development tool.

Below is the full unedited Q&A, presented exactly as the interview took place.

Full Interview: 13 Questions With Sean Halpin, Inventor of PowerSk8r

1. While in “development mode,” was there a specific “aha” moment from your own hockey experience or observing young players that led to inventing skate weights for skating training?

Yes. In 2004, while running the upper deck of the rink stadium to train for a marathon, I noticed 13 state championship banners hanging in the Superior rink in Fraser, Michigan. They all bore the name Tim Zimmerman. A week later, training again, I observed some young players with a black square block atop their skates. I called over to one of the kids to inquire about their coach's name, and they replied, "Tim Zimmerman." I immediately realized he had the key—the "secret sauce"—to maximizing his players' intensity in every practice. I reached out to Tim, and he was instrumental in inspiring the new, aerodynamic design you see today. Terry Brooks, another state champion coach from Cranbrook, Michigan, also provided valuable inspiration during the development phase. Currently, these two Michigan coaches have amassed over 30 combined state championships utilizing PowerSk8r with their teams. At the time, I was working as a designer in the Ford Mustang studio. You may notice that a hood scoop, a signature Mustang feature, runs down the center of the weight. The true secret lies in how I was inspired to develop that precise, aerodynamic shape. We'll keep that last part quiet—SHHHHH!

2. Take us behind the scenes of bringing PowerSk8r to market: From initial sketches to the first production run, what was the biggest hurdle, and how did you overcome it?

I have been an automotive designer for over 30 years. Throughout my career, I have worked in car studios globally, collaborating with clay modelers to digitally create the shapes of next-generation vehicles. Consequently, I am an expert 3D modeler. The primary challenge was that the first version proved too wide, causing the children's skates to strike the weights during crossovers. This design flaw resulted in a loss of approximately $5,000. We rectified the issue by narrowing the profile, and the subsequent design has been successful ever since. We utilize 3D scanning technology to accurately capture the exact skate shapes and sizes. Furthermore, we incorporated specialized automotive development software called ICEM Surf, a program widely used in many automotive studios worldwide.

3. Can you walk us through the key design features of PowerSk8r, like the adjustable resistance and lightweight build, and explain how they ensure safe, effective training without compromising a skater's natural technique?

Once we successfully achieved the optimal shape, we initially relied only on a strap. However, we quickly discovered that the side-to-side and front-to-back movement was excessive. To rectify this, we added the bungee cord and hook around the back to achieve what we term "cross-car, up-down, and fore-aft stabilization"—a bit of automotive design terminology.

4. How does PowerSk8r differ from traditional resistance training tools (like parachutes or sleds) specifically for ice hockey? What makes it uniquely suited for on-ice or off-ice drills?

Traditional training tools available to most coaches primarily focus on building the posterior muscles of the thigh. PowerSk8r activates when the skate lifts off the ice, creating resistance during the forward recovery motion and, thus, developing the anterior (front) side of the thigh. PowerSk8r is the only training product explicitly designed to target the forward motion of the skate. The sensation can be simulated by anchoring a bungee cord under a table leg and pulling it forward. If a player repeats this motion 2,500 times per foot in a single practice, they will have effectively generated the resistance equivalent of moving an extra 5,000 lbs. during that session.

5. For youth and junior players, what measurable improvements have you seen (or heard from users) in areas like edge work, acceleration, and endurance after using PowerSk8r?

PowerSk8r consistently improves speed, endurance, balance, and strength. When we used a stopwatch to record fast-lap times for NHL players, we documented a 10–35% increase in speed every 30-60 and 90 . It is really important to do the fast lap test right before playoffs. I would always have awards for the 5 most improved players. The kids' heads explode with confidence! They would go into the playoffs with a new spark knowing they were faster! We would always see the slowest kids on the team in the beginning of the season were the ones with the most improved lap times.

6. How do you recommend youth players progress with PowerSk8r from beginner resistance levels for edge work drills to advanced setups for full-ice sprints and what common mistakes should they avoid to maximize gains without fatigue?

I frequently observe skaters with a very high "runner's stride" during the recovery back to center. This large, circular motion is not efficient; while it may look dedicated, the most direct path between two points is a straight line. Therefore, a low recovery, just above the ice and without the major circular motion, can significantly improve stride efficiency instantly, even without the weights.

7. Beyond on-ice sessions, how can amateur teams incorporate PowerSk8r into off-season or gym-based workouts, and do you have tips for pairing it with other tools like sliders or agility ladders for well-rounded skating development?

Any supplementary exercise is beneficial. The most foundational and often overlooked exercise for leg strength is the wall sit. My teams would perform wall sits until they reached muscular failure every night before dinner (no food until the wall sit was complete). That simple exercise alone helped improve the strength and stamina of every skater training at home. Riding a bike in the neighborhood, alternating between a 30-second sprint and a 30-second recovery break, is highly effective for maintaining energy through the third period. When Kevin Hatcher retired, a Red Wings player joined our team with his son Cole at 12 for the preseason. We trained at the Olympic Velodrome in Rochester, Michigan, which features ramped walls. All the kids eventually embraced the training once they overcame the initial apprehension of riding on that steep banked track.

8. As a small business owner, what's one unexpected lesson you've learned about serving the hockey community since launching PowerSk8r?

My most persistent operational issue is in Canada. The weights frequently disappear from inventory, necessitating me to file a lost inventory claim every quarter. I suspect, though I cannot definitively prove it, that hockey dads who work for large retailers like Amazon acquire them to personally train their own kids. Additionally, some US Mail carriers who still deliver on foot abandon the weights and deliver an empty box because the extra weight is cumbersome. Furthermore, Facebook unilaterally closed my Instagram account thepowersk8r without providing a reason and would not respond to my appeal. Overnight, I lost over 5,000 followers, my influencers, and the brand ambassador development system that took years to cultivate. That was a major business blow. Mark Zuckerberg has too many customers and lacks the time to assist a small business owner like me. Their customer support to recover my Instagram store is arguably the worst in social media. It's like taking down the sign in your business.

9. What's the most inspiring success story you've received from a young player or parent using PowerSk8r maybe a kid who transformed their skating game for tryouts or a tournament?

I have been monitoring a handful of young players for over 10 years. Ryan and Aydan Nickols started using the weights when they lived in Chicago, beginning at ages 8 and 10 they are shown in the video on the web site. Both have since been recruited to play for the Jr. Philly's team. Curtis Halpin is another success story, now playing in the Penn State system. He was known for years as the fastest player in North Carolina. Four years ago, he led his U18 team to Nationals. He would frequently backcheck breakaways, execute perfect stick-lifts to take the puck, to make the stand go wild. Parents love to see this kind of Pick-pocket Every year, coaches from across the country whose entire teams use our product reach out to inform me they won their state championship.

11. In your view, how does a tool like PowerSk8r fit into the bigger picture of hockey development today, especially with the rising emphasis on skill-specific training for non-pro levels?

It is a universally accepted truth that the superior skating team will ultimately prevail. In the first half of the season, I would intentionally jeopardize playmaking development to intensely focus on skating technique and speed, which often resulted in losing games. However, in the second half, we would incorporate playmaking with our now strong, proficient skaters. We would then easily outperform the same teams we had previously lost to. I would frequently have opposing coaches ask, "Is this the same team?" I would simply laugh and reply, "Yes!" I believe too many teams waste a significant amount of practice time standing around, waiting in line for drills. It is critical to make them skate correctly, relentlessly while providing individualized technical skating skill improvement. When the entire team possesses superior skating ability, it becomes simple to introduce and master playmaking during the latter half of the season.

12. Looking at Halpin Solutions' focus on innovative product design, how do you see PowerSk8r evolving as part of a larger lineup of hockey-specific tools perhaps expansions into goalie or forward-specific variants to support non-pro levels?

I am launching the overdue 2.5 lb. weight this season. The Powerks8r-Pro version. This has been developed to provide the upper level players that have had great success through their youth hockey experience. Jamar Jajar used to train with 5 pound weights throughout his career. He was one of the oldest players in the NHL next to Chris Chelios. His daughter played on my Championship girls travel team. It was great to have team parties at Chelli's Chili restaurant in Dearborn MI. Now highschool, college, and NHL locker rooms will have access to the next level of Powersk8r-Pro products. The only player that I coached in my 10 year youth hockey coaching time that made it to the NHL was goalie for the Blue Jackets. Cam Johnson was 12 when I had him on my roster for a short time on our team. He had a short time there between 2021 and 2023.

13. When you're not busy with your next innovative invention, what do you enjoy doing away from the “office” or in your leisure time?

I am currently living a full-time RV life. We recently departed Yosemite and, six months in, my YouTube channel, ZeroMPHlife, is dedicated to this lifestyle. I continue to travel from rink to rink, remaining active in the industry. www.halpinsolutions.com is my main website. I get requests for car design development through word of mouth throughout the year. I have an office in my 40 foot rig. I offer consulting services to help inventors develop their ideas, guiding them all the way to a level suitable for shows like Shark Tank. I successfully assisted inventor Larry Kelly in reaching the top five on the FORE Inventors Show on the Golf Channel. I am the ideal contact if you have a product idea. I removed the kitchen in my RV and converted the space into an office. I do not foresee a time when I will stop developing products. You should save my number as "Inventor Guy" for when you have that product idea that will make you millions: 586-243-2240.

About the Founder

Sean P. Halpin
Founder, Halpin Solutions (since 1995)
Michigan & California Locations
📍 Headquarters: 6555 Ambrosia #1316, San Diego, CA 92124
📞 586-243-2240
🌐 www.HalpinSolutions.com | www.PowerSk8r.com | www.GoonisPicks.com | www.PuttAnywhere.com | www.StringLightCovers.com

Want to improve your team’s skating speed, endurance, and explosive power?
👉 Visit PowerSk8r.com to explore the #1 hockey skate-training tool trusted by coaches nationwide.
👉 For collaboration or product development consulting, book a call: calendly.com/halpinsolutions

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